Medallion Status: True Stories from Secret Rooms

It would probably be a fun Amazon review of John Hodgman’s well-observed and entertaining as all hell, “Medallion Status: True Stories from Secret Rooms” to list out only the many ways the author, here, a sort of Dominick Dunne of Hunted Unease, uses to describe himself as he presumes others see him. “A random person from television that we don’t recognize,” by the parents of a hospitalized child. “This weird bearded withered old man, a dark glimpse into the future of humanity,” by teenaged prom attendees. Even a member of “just another rich family who have convinced themselves that wealth makes them virtuous and thus deserving of special treatment,” by those his Disney VIP tour guide just cut him in front of in a line at Disneyland.But if all those things were true, would we delight in reading his adventures? Or is this another hedge against the impostor syndrome the author speaks to later even as he recounts his delight at the mini-perks of Medallion Status level of an unnamed, yet easily Google-able airline?The book promises a look behind the curtain of celebrity and celebrity-adjacent life in cities, hotels, sets, and tony functions around the country, but time and again, rather than sink effortlessly into the world of glitzy artifice, the author seems to have one foot out the door in each instance, already logging the experience to be retold later. Experiences, the book suggests are on the wane.“It’s good to know when you’re no longer on the list,” Hodgman tells us, referring to a guest list at the Chateau Marmont, in a refrain that rings throughout the book. “That time in your life is over,” he says elsewhere, in response to being offered pot by a fellow named Captain Weed. What’s so compelling about the narrative is trying to figure out whether he is trying to convince us or himself of his acceptance of this creeping obsolescence.All to say, the book is as laugh out loud funny—the phrase “jazzbo carny music for lonely boys” instantly the best description for Tom Waits music this Waits fan has ever heard—as it can be utterly, nakedly, emotionally brutal—I had to put the book down for a minute or two after the Petey chapter. You should read it, if only to know why should you ever be in Palm Beach looking for cheap, barely worn suits in the exclusive brand Custer was wearing when he died at Little Bighorn, they’re available to you in rack after rack.Or, well, to get to the final chapter which I read twice and will probably read again as it’s a whole book in and of itself.

Hilarious, great job as always. Could have done without the anti-trump stuff, as I was looking for a humorous escape from reality for a bit.

Change is hard. While I have never experienced the particular change in which my celebrity status diminishes (having never been any kind of celebrity) I think that change in which one feels a status or situation or relationship one enjoyed slipping away is pretty much universal. Hodgman describes his journey through events that forced him to accept the truth that the person we are in the eyes of the world inevitably changes, a realization that he shows to be unnerving but ultimately liberating. This book is a great read, sad and funny in turn.

I like John Hodgman. From his time on the "Daily Show" to his appearances as "PC" in those Apple vs PC ads from Chiat/Day. Hodgman is an excellent writer: erudite and witty. His bloviated characters from the Daily Show have Ivy League humor written all over it. What "Medallion Status" lacks is the wistful melancholy of "Vacationland." Hodgman even refers to his previous book a number of times, at least to recall portions of stories. In "Medallion," Hogdman bemoans his fall from grace, or at least near celebrity zenith: from sipping mimosas in private lounges, separated from the great unwashed, to flying economy coach like the rest of us. It sounds a bit whiny. The VP treatment and red carpet are all gone. Well, I'm sure not completely. I found his drone or kvetching is bit repetitive. I laughed out loud in the first few chapters. Like Vacationland, he sums things up in an emotional way: lessons learned, what's truly important like family, but it seems to lack punch (or something more revealing) but rather a go-to trite ending. The "Come to Jesus" moments seem cliche. Sure, trying to chase Premier, Platinum or rare-earth status is fruitless and meaningless. That's was easy to see coming. Maybe it would have been funnier if (Hodgman) kept cynical and superficial.

If you liked Vactionland, you are who this book is for. This book could have been called, more Vacationland. Its excellent. I am ignoring other important tasks around my home/work in order to read this book. I hesitated buying it because it was a little pricey but damn' it, I'm worth it and so are you. Treat yourself, just buy it already.

The stories in this book run the gamut from the exceptionally silly to the incredibly poignant; we know they are all true because it says so in the title. In any case, you do not have to be a TV personality running out of acting work and frequent flyer status points to appreciate this book as something of a field guide to what you might expect will happen to you in middle age. Published in hardcover and e-book editions in 2019, it may also turn out to have future historical value as a vivid description of what life was like during the “Peak Miles” period. I suspect that changes now occurring very rapidly due to the pandemic and global warming are here to stay. But there will still be some travel, and there have always been secret rooms, and even though phones haven’t been ringing off the hook for decades now, the greater truths about career arcs (including the fact that they do arc) will make this an interesting read for a long time to come.

Hodgman fans will delight in this book. Anyone who is not a fan will become one.

Firstly, I recommend potential 3S'li-m, Zaders read Hodgman's book Vacationland before this one, another excellent book.Secondly, if you think you'd enjoy a glimpse into the mind of strange only children as they become adults and then minor TV personalities, this book is for you!Quite frankly, I'm too young to remember John from TV and instead I am a religious podcast listener of his. He really has a wonderful way of writing that feels like a fun, casual party conversation. For a fun read to make you think about your life choices and make you laugh at the same time, check out Medallion Status.

After a ignoring vacation land for a while, I finally decided to buy it and it was great, so naturally the first thing I did once I finished was to buy medallion status. There where I audibly chuckled to myself. This is a very light hearted easy to read book full of funny and interesting stories. Anyone who is a fan of the Judge John Hodgman podcast will love this book.

Reflections on perceived dwindling fame and airline loyalty schemes. We don’t really have humourists in the UK; maybe we should. Anyway, this is a funny, melancholy and perceptive look at Hollywood and other places thanks to Hodgman’s temporary access to the outer parts of the inner sanctum.

This is my second John Hodgman book and I enjoyed it as thoroughly as the first. He welcomes you into his nearly famous life with glorious self deprecation and makes you want to take him out for a long lunch to keep him talking. His podcast Judge John Hodgman is also fun so once you finish this book and want some more, take a listen there. Highly recommend all things Hodgman.

I enjoyed this book. John Hodgman tells stories in such a weird, wonderful and complex way. This is not a criticism. I could not put it down. A nice distraction.

Always a pleasure reading Hodgman's pleasant and relaxing form of comedic writing.